Amusement device



Oct 20, 1925' J. WHITELEY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed Feb. 21, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet w I N V EN TOR (Aw/-45: Wm rs; E)

A TTORNE Y.

Oct. 20, 1925- I J. WHITELEY Alusuzn'r DEVICE 5 Sheets-Shut 2 Original, Filed-Fab. .1; 1924 III I N V EN TOR. Jar/-15: Wm TEL A Y 2 BY ATTORNEY.

J. WHITELEY Auussuznr DEVICE Original F1194 Feb. 21. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet s I N V EN TOR. Marys: Ww TEL EY ATTORNEY.

J. WHITELEY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed Feb, 21. 1924 5 Sheet$ $h66t 4 III INVENTOR. (Aw-$3 WA! TELEY ATTORNEY.

Oct. 20, 1925- J. WHITELEY AIUSEIIENT DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 21. 1924 I N V EN TOR. James Ww rear ATTORNEY.

Patented Get. 20, 1925;

UNIE'EE) PATENT OF JAMES WI-II'IELEY, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEXV YOEIZ. A SSIGNOR TO HAYNES COR- IORATION, OF DQVER. DELAWARE. A CQEPOEATION l'JE-LAW'ARE.

AMUSEMENT IJEVICE.

Application filed February 21, 1924. Serial No. 694,369. Renewed JunelO, 1925.

To all 107107. it may concern Be it known that. dairies Vtnrrnrnw, a citizen oil the United States. residing at h orth Tonawanda. in the county oi": Niagara and State of New York. have invented a new and useful. Amusement evice. of which the specification.

"on relates more spec-ilicali amusenu. device of that class in w iic to he amused are carried in travellin. cars along: an enclose-l passageway. designeand arranged to simulate the body of a creeping animal. such as a serpent or a m ""iczil dragon.

The present invention broad consists of an clinigsted tunnel. structure substantiailly semicircular in cross section, formed of canvas or other flexible material, painted and decorated on its exterior surface to represent a creeping animal, the head portion )roviding means of entrance to its interior. Disposed Within the tunnelled structure is a passenger conveying apparatus in the form of a car or train of cars, provision being made to operate the apparatus intermittently in. order that the passengers may enter and leave the cars without injury to themselves. Mechanism is also provided to impart motion to the cars at all periods of its operation and also to move the tunnelled structure so to simulate the natual movement of the a imal it represents.

.1111 important obgect of the invention is to provide an amusement apparatus in which the passengers may be safely transported along a definite line of travel, the transporting means being operated intermittently or step-by-step and cominuously rocked during its forward movement.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which the conv ring mechanism may be locked against accidental movementas each car reaches the end of the passageway, whereby to permit a safe. egress of the passengers therefrom.

ll ll in 5. packed for transportation.

In the accompanying drawings 1 haveillustrated a. preferred embodiment of my in- VGll'illOli, it beino; understood however. that no limitation necessarily made to the precise structur ails th rein exhibited. but var ous ch.. eltoroti. as. and modifica- 3 is an enlarged partial side elevation of the COHVGYOK driving mechanism. i a plan view of the same. is i :7 is an enlarged transverse section of onveyor driving mechanism taken on *-5. of Fig. 4c. f. 6 is a detail cross section of one of ssenger car rocking and cover actuat- Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section of the passenger car rocking and cover actuating means taken on line '?7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the same.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial plan view of the discharge end of the conveying mechanism. illustrating the safety levice.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of the discharge end of the conveying mechanism taken on line 101O of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section of the clutch uating mechanism for automatically disengaging the clutch of the conveyor driving mechanism, and the mechanism connected thereto for locking the cable directing sheaves against movement.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 18 is a front end elevation of one of the passenger cars.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11, showing the mechanism in a disengaged position.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross section of the mechanism for o eerating the head of the device, taken on line 15-15 of 3.

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sideelevation of one of the passenger cars.

Fig. 18 is a perspective View of the means for attaching the passenger cars to the conveyingcables.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail section of the able and car attaching means taken on line 1919 of Fig. 17.

In a preferred embodiment of the amusement apparatus, 10. 11, designates foundag; ,zrr. w a Us (a saw a: h as: m (1:;

lion supports transversely disposed at the entrance and discharge ends, on which are mounted longitudinally extending side frames 12. 13, preferably formed of angle iron for supporting the conveying and other mechanisms. Each frame consists o't longitudinally extending angle bars l i. l disposed above each other. and tied together by means of a plurality of vertically extending tie bars 16 spaced an equal distance apart through the length of the frames.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the endless passenger conveyingmechanism and the operating means therefor, is mounted between and supported by the side frames, and preferably consists of a pair of main driving sheaves 1?, 18, mounted on a transversel disposed shaft 19 rotating in bearings 20 secured to the upper angle bars 15 of the side "frames. Mounted on r. shaitt 21 at the discharge end of the apparatus, is a similar pair oi cable sheaves 29, 23. the sheaves at either end being connected by endless wire cables 25, that pass over idler sheaves 26 located adjacent the main driving sheaves. Detachably secured to the endless cables 24. 25. and between the same are a plurality of passenger cars 2?. equally spaced apart, each car preferably consisting of bottom walls 28, side walls 29, 3 and end walls 531. $32, detachably secured together so that the cars may be taken apart and conveniently liltliltl tor transptn'tat-ion. Cars 27 are supported on transversely extending cylindrical shafts 35, 36, disposed respectively at the front and rear ends thereof; the end of each of said shafts are socketed tor the reception ot cable clamping devices 37, in this instance coniprising a stationary jaw .38. see Fig. 19, and a movable jaw 39, a bolt 40 holding the members securely in clamped engagement with the conveying cables when secured thereto, as the clamping members do not entirely encircle the cables when attaczed so that they will offer no interference when passing over the cable sheaves. To the outer faces of the side walls 29, 230. are rigidly secured longitudinally 8X- tending strap iron bars 45, the front ends oi the bars terminating in hooked or recessed ends 46; the bottom of the recesses are semicircular so as to closely en; the circular bars. Rigidiy secured to the outer face of each or '7 are shait engagin members i7. provided with a centrally disposed recess 48, the bottom of the recess being sen'ii-circular and provided with a centrally disposed socket 49 which is engaged by a circular collar 510 rigidly secured to the circular bars ant 36. As before noted the cars are colla sible and in order to dises semble the sa..-.ie the bottom and end walls are secured in rooves formed in the inner faces of the sic-re walls as clearly shown in Figs. 13, 17, and 19 of the drawings. By means of this construction when the cars are inverted during their rotation the collar 50 will prevent the cars from becoming disengaged trom the bars 35 and 36. In order to facilitate a return movement of the cars to the entrance end of the apparatus, and also prevent a sagging action on the lower runs of the cables, longitudinally extending beams 5l are provided, said beams being secured by angle clips 52 secured to a plurality ot' transversely disposed bars that form a support for the side frames of the ap aratus.

lhe mechanism for d 'iving the conveying apparatus preferably consists of an engine suitably disposed on the framework on the forward end ot the apparatus, the engine being preferably of th internal combustion type. The drive shaft 35 ot the engine is provided with driving pulley 50 belted to a. pulley 5? secured to one end of a clutch shaft 58, the other end or" the clutch shaii't having the male clutch member 5.) that engages the other teinale member 30 of the clutch. Clutch member (30 is rigidly secured to the inner end or a shaft 61 that is suitably mounted in bearings ITIOUDtECl on a trameworl and carries a spur gear (33 that meshes with a gear (5l secured to a shaft 65, the ends of said shaft being pro vided with spur pinions G6 tl at engage internal gear 67 secured to the inner oppositely disposed faces of the cable driving sheaves 1'7 and 18.

In order that each of the passenger cars may be brought to a stop when they reach the discharge end of the apparatus, it will be apparent that means must be provided for automatically disengaging the cable conveying means from the driving mechanism. and to this end I have provided a clutch disengaging mechanism comprising a reciprocating shaft 70 mounted in suitable bearings 71 secured to the frame of the machine, the outer end of the shaft being pivotally connected to an operating lever Y2 mounted in a bearing on the side frame 12 ot the apparatus. Pivotally secured to shaft 70 is a clutch operating rod 73. its free end being pivotally secured as at Tl to the lrame 62. Rod 73 is provided intermediate its ends with a downwardly extending pin 75 that engages a grooved collar 76. secured to the male clutch neniber "tor disengaging the same from clutch member 60 on shitting movement oi the reciprocating shaft 70. The inner fame of sheave 1? is provided adjacent its peri tihery with cam members diametrically disposed, and on its outer face adjacent the cam members with lugs 81. Rigidly secured to shaft 79 on either side of sheave it is abutment member and a shaft shitting member 83 that is designed to be operated on one-half a rotation is. (As

of the driving sheaves, the distance between the can; and abutment members on the sheaves determining the length of travel of the conveying apparatus before the same is brought to a stop.

In order to import a rocking or transverse motion to the passenger cars at all times during the operation of the app-(irate have provided a plurality of car rocking mechanisms secured to the side frames 12 and 13, equally spaced apart. as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. As all oi these mechanisms are exactly similar 1 will describe only asingle set. Secured directly below angle bar 14 of the side frame 12% and mounted in bearings secured to said angle bar. is a longitudinally disposed shaft 91 which extends from the last rocking mechanism at the discharge end of the apparatus forwardly and terminating adjacent the front of the apparatus, the end of the shaft being provided with a worm wheel. 92 that meshes with a worm 93 attached to a transversely disposed shaft 04-, which carries on its outer end a pulley 95 that is belted to a pulley 96 secured to the outer end of the engine drive shaft 55, the shaft 91 being continuously rotated during the operation of the apparatus. Disposed between side frames 12 and 13 and rotatively mounted in bearings 97 secured to angle bars 1 is a shaft 98 which carries on one of its outer ends adjacent frame 18,21 worm wheel 99 that meshes with the worm 93 to transmit power to the shaft 98. Rigidly secured to shaft 98 adjacent frames 12 and 13 are cam members 100, 101 whose peripheral edges engage rollers 102, 103, secured on the lower ends of vertically disposed shafts 104. 105, that are secured in bearings attached to the inner faces of the side frames, the upper ends of shafts 104, 105, each carrying grooved wheels 106, 107, in the grooves of which the conveyor cables are carried during the operation. By referring to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the high points of the cams 100, 101, are oppositely disposed and as a consequence on a rotation of shaft 973, the vertically disposed shafts 10 1. 105, will be alternately reciprocated upwardly to continuously rock the passenger cars 2'7, from side to side during the operation of the apparatus, and also impart an undulating motion thereto.

A collapsible tunnel 1,10 mounted to completely cover the conveying m chanism and passenger attach d thereto. This tunnel is made up of a plurality of inverted. U-shaped frames 111 of varying heights for supporting the wall of the tunnel which is preferably formed of a heavy fabric, such as canvas designed to be moved in a sinuous manner to simulate the in veinent of a creeping animah the forward end of the tun nel being formed to represent an animal inechanism is in operation.

head 112 with its mouth or jaws normally open.

This tunnel is supported, and moved in the following manner. 'ilhe shafts 98 have secured to their extreme outer ends, ClRDliS 113, to the free ends of which are secured the lower ends of the supporting frames 111. the cranks are secured to the shafts 98 in such a manner as to impart an undulating movement to the fabric tunnel while the The upper jaw of the head 11% is designed to open and close at intervals during the operation of the apparatus, and provides for the entrance of passengers to the conveying mechanism lo: cated within the tunnel. I To accomplish the movement of the animals jaw, E have provided a mechanism, which preferably consists of an inverted. U-shaped frame 114 the upper semi-circular portion engaging the upper jaw of the animal. head, the free ends being pivotally secured to links 115 and their free end in turn bein. p' oted to crank arms 116. securd to the .r ends of the transversely mounted operating shaftof the forward car rocking mechanism that is disposed adjacent the front end of the apparatus, this mechanism being clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 15 and 16 of the drawings.

The operation of the form of apparatus above described is as follows: When the amusement apparatus is operating the pas sengers ascend the ladder to a platform disposed directly in front of the entrance to the tunnel. When the passengers are seated in a car disposed alongside the platform the attendant shifts lever 72 outwardly to force the clutch into engagement, power being transmitted from the engine 54- through the medium of driving mechanism heretofore described. As sheave 17 makes one-half of a revolution the cam 80 on its inside face will contact with member 88 on the shaft 70 to shift the same inwardly to throw the clutch out of engagement, at the same time the lug 81 on the outer face of the sheave17 cont-acts with abutment mem ber 82 to prevent the further rotation of the driving sheaves, thus preventing an accidental movement of the conveying mechanism. As soon as the conveying mechanism has ceased its motion, an a tendant at the discharge end of the apparatus shifts a lever 122 pivotally connected to safety platform 123 from its position shown in dotted lines (see Figs. 9 and 10) directly into thepath of the passenger car that has reached the discharge end of the apparatus, the platfrom constituting an additional safety device, it being understood that the process of loading and discharging passengers from the cars takes place simultaneously. lVlien the cars have been loaded and discharged, as above described, the attendant at the forward end of the apparatus releases the lever 72, a coil spring 12% forcing the clutch n". her through the u'iediuni oi pin an-av grooved collar 76 into engagement, at the same time forcing the abutment member our of the path of the lugs cl secured to the side faces of the sheave, the aten-zlant the discharge end shining the platform 12 out of the path of the From this it will be noted that the passenger cars travel intermittently from one end to the other oi the apparatus, and as the attendant positively controls the movement oi the apparatus, no injury is likely to occur to the passengers being tre asported.

As the niechansms ior con ing the zzssenger ears, inc. structure and operati sin'iulated animal. are a x the power transmission oi the f u-ifuously mechanism on and disc :2 continuous movement will he miner the various passenger to t rni aoditional amusement du the stop, e of the conveyor mechanism. Further, as satety appliances are l)i()."l\l =T- at the front and rear oi the apparatus, no serious or untoward accidents could possibly occur to the passengers being transported throu the device.

By painting lhe exterior of the tunnel structure to represent the body at a creeping animal, such a dragon or se pent provided with a moving head, and arranging su'table ori ital screens at the has: thereof, a realis .tterior appearance is a tained, at the same time ai iording considerable amusement to spectators and exciting their curiosity in the apparatus enclosed therein.

-What I claim is:

1. An amusement apparat s comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism designed to traverse a substantially straight path. a tunnel structure mounted over said mechanism and connected thereto for movement, and means to o ieral'o said conveying mechanism.

An amusement apparatus comprising and endless passenger conveying mechanism arranged to operate in a substantially straight direction, a tunnelled structure formed to simulate a creeping animal, and means to operate said conveying mechanism and funneled structure.

3. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless conveying mechanism having passenger cars attached thereto arranged to traverse a substantially straight path, a

movable tunnel structure covering said mechanism, and means to operate said conveyor and tunneled structure.

al. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism arranged to traverse a sul'istantially straight path, a movable tunnel structure mounted over said mechanism and connected thereto, means to automatically and intermittently operate said conveying mechanism, and means to continuously operate sa id tunnel structure.

5. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism having passenger cars attached thereto, a collapsible tunnel structure covering said mechanism and connected thereto for move ment, means to antomaticall and intermittently operate said conveying nicchanism, ivhereby passengers may enter and leave the cars during the stoppage of the conveyor, and means to operate said tunnel structure.

(1. an amusement apparatus conugrising two pairs of grooved sheaves, each pair being spaced apart, endless conveyor cables connecting said pairs of sheaves, passenger cars mounted between said cables and attached thereto to move therewith, a collapsible tunncl structure covering said cable conveyor and attached thereto for undulating movement, motive means to operate a pair of said cable sheaves, and means to operate said tunnel.

T. A amusement apparatus comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism having passenger cars attached thereto arranged to traverse a substantially straight path, a movable tunnel structure secured to and covering said mechanism, means to p erate said conveyor intermittently, and means to move said tunnel structure.

8. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism provided with a plurality of passenger cars, a movable tunnel structure secured to and covering said mechanism, means to impart movement to said tunnel on an operation of the conveying mechanism, means to operate said conveying mechanism intermittently, and means to continuously impart motion to said passenger cars during the operation of the apparatus.

9. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism having passenger cars attached thereto, a collapsible tunnel structure secured to and covering said mechanism, means to impart movement to said tunnel during the operation of the conveyin mechanism, means to operate said conveyor, and means to impart movement to the cars independently of the conveying mechanism.

10. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism having a plurality of passenger cars ata pair of elongated side tached thereto designed to traverse a substantially straight path, a movable tunnel adapted to enclose the conveying, mechanism and'cars attached thereto, means to move the cars independently of theoonveying mecha nism movement, means to impart an undulating movement to the tunnel structure, and means to automatically and intermittently operate said conveyor mechanism.

11. An amusement apparatus comprising frames spaced apart, a pair of cable sheaves mounted at one end of said frame, a pair of cable sheaves mounted at the opposite end, a pair endless cables connecting said sheaves, a plurality of passenger conveying cars attached to said cables, motive means tor driving said first mentioned pair of cable sheaves, means to auton'iatically disconnect the motive means from, said first mentioned sheaves at predetermined intervals, cam means for imparting continuous motion to the passenger cars during an operation of the apparatus, a collapsible tunnel structure cov ering said apparatus, and means to move said tunnel structure continuously during the operation of the apparatus.

12. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless cable conveying mechanism having a plurality of passenger cars attached to said apparatus, a collapsible tunnel structure mounted above and enclosing said conveying mechanism, said structure arranged to simulate a creeping animal provided with a head having an opened mouth, means to operate said conveying mechanism intermittently, means to move the head and upper jaw of said tunnel structure during the 'op eration of said conveying mechanism. means to operate the tunnel structure to simulate,

the movement of a creeping animal. and means to lock the conveying mechanism against movement during its period oi rest.

13. An amusement apparatus comprising an endless passenger conveying mechanism provided with a plurality of cars equally spaced apart, a movable tunnel structure covering said mechanism and operatively connected thereto for movement therewith, motive means to drive said conveying mechanism intermittently and to continuously 0p erate said tunnel structure, a clutch mechanism interposed in said driving mechanism, and means to automatically actuate said clutch to disconnect the conveyor driving means from the conveying apparatus.

14. An amusement apparatus con'iprising an endless conveying mechanism provided with a plurality of passenger transportation cars, sald mechanism arranged to operate in a substantially straight path, a fabric tunnel structure connected to the frame of said c0nveying mechanism, a conveyor driving means connected to said conveying mechanism, a disconnecting means interposed in said conveyor driving means for intermittently interrupting its movement, and means for automatically operating said disconnecting means.

15. An amusement device comprising a pair of endless cables spaced apart and retating means therefor, a plurality of passcnger cars detachably secured between and to said cables, meansto automatically disconnect said cables from their driving means at predetermined periods of their rotation, a fabric tunnel mounted above the cables and means to cause an undulating movement thereto during the operation of the endless cables, a plurality of shafts transversely disposed between said cables, each shaft carrying a pair of cams, a plurality of pairs of lifting rods, the lower ends of saidrods contacting with the edges of said cams, a pair for each cam carrying shaft, the upper ends of said rods engaging said pair of endless cables, whereby on a rotation of said cams the rods will be reciprocated to impart a rocking motion to the passenger cars attached to the cables, and means to rotate said shafts on an operation ot the apparatus.

16. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination "oi? a passenger-carrying car or train, a support therefor, a tunnel structure thereover formed to simulate a creeping animal and means tor imparting an undulating movement to the support and tunnel. I

17. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying air or train a support therefor, a tunnel structure thereover 'lormed to simulate a creeping animal, and rotatable means for imparting an undulating moven'ieut to the support and tunnel.

18. Au amusement apparatus comprising the con'ibination oi. a passenger-carrying car or train, a tunnel structure formed to simulate a creeping anin'ial. means for moving the car or train through the tunnel and means for imparting a rocking movement to the car or train and an undulating movement to the tunnel structure.

19. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying car or train, a support therefor, a tunnel structure thereover formed to simulate a creeping animal, means for imparting an undulating movement to the support and means for moving the car or train through the tunnel with a step-by-step movement.

20. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying car or train, a tunnel structure formed to simulate a creeping animal, means for moving the car or train through the tunnel with a step-by-step movement and means for continuously rocking the car or train.

21. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying car or train, a tunnel structure formed to simulate a creeping animal provided with a head having an opened mouth, means for moving the car or train through the tunnel and means for moving a jaw of the mouth and undulating the body of the tunnel to simulate the movement of the creeping animal.

22. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying car or train. a support therefor, a tunnel structure thereover and means for imparting an undulating movement to the support and tunnel.

23. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying car or train, a tunnel structure thereover, means for moving the car or train through the tunnel with a step-by-step movement and means for continuously rocking the car or train.

2'1. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying ear or train, a pair of supporting cables extending longitudinally thereof on either side, means for moving the cables to advance the car or train, and means for undulating the cables independently of each other whereby a rocking and undulating movement is imparted to the car or train.

25. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying car or train, a pair of cables extending longitudinally thereof one on either side, a plurality of supports for the upper runs of each cable, means for moving the cables over the supports to advance the car or train and means for reci 'irocating the supports inde pendently of each other whereby a rocking and undulating motion is imparted to the car or train.

26. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of a passenger-carrying car or train, a pair of cables extending longitudinally ot'thc car or train one on either side, a plurality of supports for the upper runs of each cable, means for moving the cables step-bystep to advance the car or train, and means for continuously undulating the cables independently of each other whereby a rocking and undulating motion is imparted to the car or train during the forward movement and a rocking movement when the car or train is not advancing.

27. An amusement apparatus comprising the combination of an endless passengercarrying conveyor, means for moving the conveyor, and means for undulating the sides of the conveyor independently of each other to impart an undulating and rocking motion thereto.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of February, 1924.

JAMES VI-UTE L IIY, 

